Opinion: 5 Things We Want From Next-Gen

The war for console domination begins this year once again- who will come out on top? What we want next-generation consoles to do...
Can you feel it, coming in the air tonight? Phil Collins was onto something. Because right now, somewhere out there in the darkness, three development studios are crafting (or refining) brave new worlds of video game entertainment for us to savour in 2013. Nintendo have already released the WiiU out into the wild, but we're sure there's plenty more content for the console to come this year, plus Microsoft and Sony will definitely have new hardware of their own out Christmastime.

So just what should these three new consoles actually do? That is, once we're past the launch line-up of ports and small new IPs, what can the next-generation of video gaming do for us? I'm not talking in a 'Versus' sense, quite the opposite. No, instead here's my guide to how the next-generation of video gaming consoles can as a whole improve on what's been learnt these past eight years...
1. INCLUDE DVD & BLU-RAY PORTS- Nintendo will quickly feel the gravity of their mistake in ommitting a DVD/Blu-Ray compatible slot in their WiiU console. Given that I'd suspect that development team will stick to their guns on this design error, that leaves Microsoft and Sony to remain faithful in the two disc formats, and especially Microsoft to finally allow 360 gamers (or rather '720 gamers'?) to harness full HD movies on their Xbox console. This is a simple yet crucial attribute both consoles must share.
2. RETAIN BACKWARDS COMPATABILITY- Thankfully, Nintendo have got the right idea by allowing the WiiU to play original Wii games without a hitch. I have no doubt that Microsoft will follow suite with their Xbox 3, but Sony need to try and do the same, as in my opinion their neglectance of backwards compatability for PS2 games in favour of online PSN 'Classics' downloads was one of the PlayStation 3's major downfalls.
3. INNOVATE IN SOFTWARE EXPERIENCES- Sure, first-person shooters, online warfare barrages and racing/sports annualised franchises have done their respective genres proud in the current generation of consoles, but much as they innovated on what the PS2, Xbox and Gamecube had done, so too should next-gen developers look to shock and surprise us in much the same vein. Again, innovation and creavity in the world of development is absolutely crucial to keeping the games industry alive.
4. UTILISE MOTION CONTROL- Believe it or not, there is absolutely tons of potential for motion-based video gaming to thrive in future. Need evidence? Check out Kinect Sports, Wii Sports and Super Mario Galaxy 2 and you'll see it in good measure. If developers could plug more time into these motion projects rather than seeing them as fast-track annual projects, then we could possibly get something very special in the next-generation that proves motions are worthy controllers for the wider player masses.
5. STOP THE BICKERING- Perhaps this is quite an ambitious one, yet I'll throw it out all the same. While I recognise that it seems to be part of our society today to question and compare, to fight it out in fandoms over what's 'best', I genuinely think there needs to be less of a division between Sony and Microsoft fans when the new consoles do arrive. Wouldn't it be great to be content with the exclusive releases we get as console owners, while applauding the 'rival' company for their own worthy exclusives? Okay, so given our society's current argumentative status, it seems a tad unlikely, but we can dream...